Australia have suffered a body blow ahead of the opening Ashes 2025/26 Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth next week as their veteran pacer, Josh Hazlewood, has been ruled out of the opening game in Perth with a hamstring injury. He was cleared when he left the field during New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria at the SCG. He won’t travel to Perth this weekend, as they have also lost Sean Abbott to a hamstring injury. 

Hazlewood, who has 295 wickets in the longest format, was in superb form against India in the white-ball formats last month and also looked in a great rhythm in Sydney. However, after completing his spell on the third morning, he felt some tightness in his hamstring and left the field immediately.

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The lanky pacer walked to a clinic next door to the SCG to have a scan, which, before the match had finished, returned clear. The national side is already missing their captain and star pace bowling all-rounder, Pat Cummins, for the opening fixture.

Australia add Michael Neser as cover for injured pacers for Ashes 2025/26 Perth Test

Since the beginning of 2014, Australia have only played twice at home in a Test match without Cummins and Hazlewood, but won on both occasions. Those games were against England in 2021 and against West Indies in 2022, which are also the two Tests Neser had played. Hazlewood’s injury means that Brendan Doggett could be closing in on a Test debut.

“Initial scans on Wednesday were clear of muscle strain; however, follow-up imaging today has confirmed the injury. Early imaging can occasionally underestimate low-grade muscle injuries.” Cricket Australia expressed in a statement. England would also likely miss their star pacer, Mark Wood, with hamstring tightness.

“Hopefully by Perth, I'm up there near 100%, and then see where we're at. It's still pretty aggressive, going from nothing to trying to get ready for a Test match in four weeks. But we're going to give it a good shot.” Pat Cummins expressed and is likely to return for the second Gabba Test.